Scripture: Psalm 73:2 – “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.” (NRSV)
They say that no good deed goes unpunished. In a perfect world, you get rewarded for doing good things and punished for doing bad things. This is how we discipline our children, teaching them that good things come to those who do the right things. We learn that if you work hard and live a clean and frugal life, you are going to get ahead.
But reality seems just the opposite. It is those who depend on trickery who excel. They get hired based on who they know over a more qualified candidate. They work their employees to the breaking point and then fire them or hire them for 39.5 hours to avoid paying benefits and then work them 50 hours to get the best bottom line. They live lavish lifestyles which attract friends and admirers rather than live humbly and all success seems to come their way.
This is not how God wants us to be. God wants us to be kind and humble and even self-sacrificing for the good of others. But it is so easy to give into temptation, to leave the slow and steady way of faith and shift into the fast lane to join the crowd who want to be like those who have the most success.
Psalm 73 gives us support in these times but is also realistic about what it takes to stand firm to your faith. It says, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” It describes how easy life is for them. “For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.” How well this 2500-year-old poem describes our tabloid and Instagram culture. And it describes how people feel like they can get away with anything and that even God cannot stop them. “They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. … Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. And they say, ‘How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.”
So why would anyone follow God? The psalmist says, “All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning.” He is constantly punished for doing the right thing.
But it is still the right thing to do. He describes how his doubts about his life melted away when he went into the sanctuary of God. He realized that all the success of the arrogant and beautiful can disappear in an instant, but the love of God and the love of true friends can endure any difficulties and transcends death itself.
So, when you are feeling frustrated, do not be tempted to take the easy way out. Hold on to your faith and you will find a peace and prosperity beyond what the wicked could ever imagine.
Prayer: Give me to the patience to follow your straight and narrow path, even if the other lanes seem to be moving faster. You will get me to the right destination. Amen.
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